Greg Barns from the Australian Lawyers Alliance says he has obtained figures which show the Commonwealth has spent $25 million in the past 15 years settling claims related to asylum seekers.

Mr Barns says self harm occurs nearly every day in Australia's detention centres. He believes the Commonwealth is not keen for the cases to go to trial because they will reveal the physical and mental harm which happens to people in detention.

"The majority of them are for mental and physical harm which is caused because the Commonwealth didn't properly exercise its duty of care to people, that is, the Commonwealth didn't get the psychiatric care that they needed," he said.

His comments come after a 16-year-old detainee at the Pontville Detention Centre near Hobart refused food for five days.

"Failing to take them out of those conditions altogether can amount to a breach of the duty of care, and I'd be surprised if the Commonwealth is not sued over its performance at Pontville."

Refugee advocates say some of the 300 teenage boys at the centre have been in detention for eight months and have no idea when they will be released.

Premier joins voices of concern

Tasmania's Premier has joined others voicing concerns about the mental health of teenagers at the centre. Lara Giddings says she will raise the issue with the Commonwealth.

In recent weeks there have been two violent clashes involving up to 80 detainees.

Ms Giddings says the situation is concerning.

"Certainly I'm keeping a close eye on what's happening and I would like to know more about this young person who's at Pontville," she said.

"I can express my concerns and I will express my concerns, but none of us knows the full story here and we should all be very cautious about saying too much."

Concerns have also been raised by the president of the Human Rights Commission and the Australian Children's Commissioner.

The new Immigration Minister Tony Burke is yet to comment on the issue.